A Scottish mum has said she will be “haunted forever” after her daughter’s body lay undiscovered in the toilet of a McDonald’s in Edinburgh for six hours.
Michaela Sharp was tragically found dead at the South St Andrew Street branch of the fast food restaurant in the early hours of June 14.
Her mother, Aurora Light, said police officers told her CCTV footage showed the 32-year-old entering the bathroom at about 9pm the previous evening, however the door was not opened until nearly 3am the following morning.
Aurora, 52, from Bo’ness, near Falkirk, said it was “unthinkable” her daughter was left to die alone.
Emergency crews were called to the scene, but sadly Michaela could not be saved.
Aurora said Michaela’s cause of death was unclear, however she was known to have suffered from health issues including seizures.
Aurora said she had been staying with her mother when police arrived to deliver the news. She said her mum was left “sobbing on the doorstep” when officers knocked on the door.
Aurora said: “All I could hear was her sobbing and saying, ‘it can’t be true. Is she really gone?’ I couldn’t understand what had happened.
“The police then told us Michaela had been found in a toilet in McDonald’s at around 3am.
Michaela Sharp was tragically found dead at the South St Andrew Street branch
“When paramedics arrived, she was already dead and could have been for hours. They said the CCTV showed her going in at 9pm so she could have been laying there alone since then.
“She has had seizures caused by health issues before where we had to call an ambulance but all we know is it was sudden.”
Aurora believes Michaela could have been saved if staff had checked the toilets.
She said: “If someone had just found her in the first half an hour and called an ambulance she might still be here today.
Michaela with her mum
“If only someone had checked, someone could have saved my little girl. It’s the what if’s that will haunt me forever.
“Just the thought of your child being left cold like that in the toilets for six hours is unthinkable.
“Knowing the restaurant was open with people around breaks my heart. By the time the ambulance got there, there was nothing they could do.”
Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox.
The South St Andrew Street branch is one of the busiest in Edinburgh and is particularly popular among revellers heading home from nights out.
A spokesperson for the fast food restaurant offered its condolences and said it had assisted Police Scotland in its investigation.
They added: “We offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends following this tragic event in June.
“Our restaurant team worked closely with Police Scotland to assist at the time of their investigation and will continue to support if required.
“We have offered support to any of our restaurant team who have been affected.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 2.55am on Saturday, June 14, 2025, we were called to a report of a woman having taken unwell in the South St Andrew Street area of Edinburgh.
“Emergency services attended and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. There are no suspicious circumstances.”
The tragic incident occurred weeks before Sean Stephen was discovered dead in a toilet at the Edinburgh City Chambers on July 7.
Join Edinburgh Live’s Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
The 38-year-old’s body was found in an advanced state of decomposition after he was reported missing on July 1.
Police Scotland referred the incident at the time to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC).
A probe by the city council is also set to take place following the devastating incident.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said “The circumstances of the incident have been referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) and we are unable to comment further.”
City of Edinburgh Council has also been approached for comment.